UPDATED: Parent company of Ray's Food Place files for bankruptcy

Tuesday

Nov 19, 2013 at 11:30 AMNov 19, 2013 at 1:35 PM

Brookings-based C&K Market Inc., parent of Ray's Food Place, Shop Smart, C&K Market and LoBuck$ stores in Oregon and California has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and said it could shutter about a third of its stores.

Updated 1:30 p.m. The region’s largest independent grocery chain has filed for Chapter 11 court protection and will sell or shutter one third of its 60 stores.

Brookings-based C&K Market Inc., parent of Ray’s Food Place, Shop Smart, C&K Market and LoBuck$ stores in Oregon and California filed its petition in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Oregon in Eugene.

Two Jackson County grocery stores and three more in Josephine County are among the 16 slated to be sold or closed, according to C&K Market’s website. About 20 percent of the company’s 2,500 employees will lose their jobs.

The Shop Smart on Crater Lake Highway in White City and Ray’s Food Place in Phoenix are on the list, along Ray’s Food Place stores on Seventh Street and Williams Highway in Grants Pass and another store in Murphy.

The company’s website said competition from discounters such as Costco and Walmart has put pressure on its sales and margins.

“As competition increased from larger grocers and mega-stores, more people left their communities to shop in those stores,” C&K posted on its website. “Sales declined in some of our stores, forcing us to realize that we could no longer operate profitably in some markets. Selling or closing about a third of our stores was a difficult, but necessary, move to ensure our viability, and will allow us to continue serving as many customers as possible. We are saddened that some will no longer work with us, and we will assist them in their job search.”

The Phoenix Ray’s is located three miles from the Walmart superstore that opened in 2012, while the Shop Smart in White City is four miles from both the North Medford Walmart superstore, which reopened in September and one in Eagle Point. However, Ray’s in Eagle Point — virtually across the street from a Walmart supercenter — will remain open.

A year ago, the grocer announced plans to move its real estate, construction, training and some of its human resources activity to the former Ticor Title building at 850 O’Hare Parkway in Navigators Landing near the Medford airport. It’s unclear what effect the bankruptcy will have on the satellite office.

The company said last month it will sell 15 pharmacies, operating as Pharmacy Express, Tiffany’s Drugs, and Chetco Pharmacy & Gifts in Southern Oregon and Northern California.

“We started by selling our pharmacy businesses,” C&K said. “That decision was part of our decision to focus on our core business of operating community grocery stores.”

— Greg Stiles

11:30 a.m. Brookings-based C&K Market Inc., parent of Ray's Food Place, Shop Smart, C&K Market and LoBuck$ stores in Oregon and California has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and said it could shutter about a third of its stores.
The petition was filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Oregon in Eugene.
In announcing the restructuring move today, C&K said its operations are expected to continue as normal throughout the bankruptcy process, as it develops a reorganization plan.
"Entering Chapter 11 was a difficult decision for our family," said Doug Nidiffer, chairman of the board, in a statement. "We seriously considered our options, and believe this approach is in the best interest of many of the communities we've served over the years. We will retain about two-thirds of our 60 stores, tighten our corporate structure, and shed legacy costs."
C&K Market said it will seek approval of a debtor in possession financing facility with U.S. Bank.
"The decision to sell or close about a third of our stores was extremely difficult," said Gregory L. Sandeno, president of C&K Market. "We appreciate the dedication and hard work of all of our employees and are saddened that some cannot continue with us. We anticipate we will eliminate approximately 20 percent of our positions, as a result of selling or closing stores and restructuring on the corporate side."
Sandeno said the company expects to emerge stronger and leaner.
C&K Market was 29th on the Supermarket News' list of top small chains and independents in the country. It operates Ray's in Eagle Point, Jacksonville, Phoenix, Central Point, Talent, Rogue River and Gold Hill and a Shop Smart in White City. (This list has been updated.)
— Greg Stiles
View C&K Market Inc. stores in Jackson County in a larger map